What is the best age to start childcare? Some parents don't have a choice when that have to start childcare. It's whenever they go back to work and whatever age their child is, is when that child is going to begin childcare. Things to look at. If your child is an infant, toddler, newborn to about 18 months, it's real important to choose a primary caregiver. There's only one person with that infant or toddler throughout the day. If your child is a little bit older, when they are about two years old. Two year olds like other two year olds, so they don't mind being around other children. They don't mind having a couple of different people to talk to during the day. When your child is three to five years old, they are very social. They love groups. They love to play. They love to do lots of things. You want to look at the age your child is when you place them in childcare.